ABOUT
Music
York’s Music program is known for pioneering post-secondary music studies in jazz, world, gospel, contemporary improvisation, and digital music. Students may specialize or generalize according to their interests, developing expertise in a particular area of vocal or instrumental performance or composition, or working in a variety of musical practices and cultural forms.
Music at York combines a flexible program with individual attention to prepare students for their future careers. Options include solo, small and large ensemble performance; composition and arranging; music education and community music; popular music studies and ethnomusicology; and the growing field of music media production for cinema, gaming and motion media.
The Undergraduate Program is founded on the principles of diversity and inclusion, and is unique in recognizing students with musical talent and ambition who arrive with a rich variety of musical backgrounds. It builds on these experiences by providing a common foundation in the first two years through four core courses to develop the skills necessary for ongoing music creation, studies, and community practice. During their final two years, students specialize further and can explore the full range of options available to them.
OUR CREATIVE SPACES
Tribute Communities Recital Hall
HIGHLIGHTS
A Brief History
FACULTY AND STAFF
People of Music
MUSIC AT YORK STUDENTS
Perks
Featured Guests
Through the year, special guests are invited from the professional and academic worlds to give seminars, offer specialized workshops, give guest lectures, and provide career guidance, with the annual week-long residency of the Oscar Peterson Jazz Artist-in-Residence providing a major highlight.
Performance Opportunities
Course-based, faculty-inspired, and student-initiated opportunities to rehearse and perform both on and off campus in a range of professional and community settings contribute to the dynamic atmosphere in the Department.
Enriched Experiences
Students benefit from the active creative, scholarly, and community-based activities of our faculty, whose teaching and mentorship are informed by their ongoing professional work as performers, composers, and engaged scholars, resulting in a music program enriched by the intersections of these areas of research and creation.
Sound and Moving Image Library and Scott Library
York’s library system offers valuable research and performance resources that include scores, critical editions, films and recordings (notable for its collection of jazz and popular music recordings), a comprehensive holding of books and journals, and special collections including sheet music and the Mariposa archives.
MUSIC AT YORK STUDENTS
